CHMS Teacher Earns National Board Certification

Clarendon Hills Middle School teacher Frank Rossi has achieved National Board Certification, considered the highest credential in the teaching profession. Rossi is among 436 teachers in Illinois to earn certification in 2012, bringing the total in the state to 5,582. 

“The process of becoming a National Board Certified teacher is an amazing and demanding professional growth experience,” said Superintendent Dr. Renée Schuster. “Teachers who attain this certification must demonstrate that they have achieved the highest standard for excellence in teaching. On behalf of his colleagues and the Board of Education, I commend Mr. Rossi for this outstanding achievement.”

National Board Certification is a voluntary process established by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS). It is achieved through a rigorous, performance-based assessment that takes between one and three years to complete and measures what accomplished teachers and school counselors should know and be able to do. 

Rossi described the work involved in earning his certification as a challenging and rewarding experience. “The process has further developed my content knowledge, helped me better focus on meaningful student learning in the classroom, and encouraged me to reflect on ways to reach all of my students. In my Applied Technology classroom, I strive to better promote student growth through collaboration, critical thinking, and application to real-world activities.”

Ron Thorpe, NBPTS president and CEO, shared, "As the nation focuses on building the strongest possible teaching workforce, National Board Certification is the gold standard in affirming excellence in the classroom. These highly qualified teachers are true 'nation builders' and are the educators who are best positioned to lead the ground-up movement our schools need to reach their potential."

Clarendon Hills Middle School Principal Griffin Sonntag adds, "Mr. Rossi's commitment to students and dedication to becoming the best at his craft motivated him to accomplish the National Board Certification. He joins many other dedicated professionals at Clarendon Hills Middle School who have attained this highest level of certification."

District 181 now in fact has 28 teachers who earned National Board of Professional Teaching Standards Certification since 2003, including: Jill Berry, Mary Jo Guzaldo, Sara Havel, Jessica Houston, Brenda Sanders, Beth Kunesh, Susan Lebensorger, Eric Lovitsch, Bethany Martino, Joanne Trumbull, Gayle Allen, Therese McGee, Heather Scott, Rita Anderson, Beth Bellinger, Marianne Biedrzycki, Ruth Ann Korwell, Amy Grippando, Justin Horne, 

Michelle Woodring, Jeff DeGraff, Yvonne Honings, Kara Kennedy, Terry Melbourn, Kathleen Schram, 

Jenny Wilton and Steve Tabisz.

Rossi received the District 181 Board of Education Ambassador of Excellence Award on March 11, 2013.